A. Virtual Machine on Windows

Download the XUbuntu virtual machine image (it's a compressed file);WARNING: This file is huge and the download process could take hours, depending on how good your connection is. If you have a bad connection then you may as well forget it right now.

Unpack the XUbuntu 14.04t image into a folder where you want to keep your VMs (you can have more than one);

Open up the folders and find the Xubuntu.vmx file and double-click it.

The virtual machine will run and everything will set-up. By the end of the process you will have a copy of XUbuntu running. And you will be filled with joy-joy feelings.

B. Adding the software

The next stage is to add all the software you want to use. Some items are essential, some are a good idea, others are entirely optional. You must have an Internet connection for this

Click on the icon in the bottom left (it's the sam sort of thing as the Windows "Start" menu) and click Terminal Emulator;Just in case you don't know: a lot of Linux work is done on the command line.

Type: sudo apt-get updateThis updates all the information about what packages are available for installing. The first time you do this (and if you leave it a while between commands) you will be asked for the password. it's password.

Type: java -versionIt will tell you there isn't a version of java loaded and will then offer you some choices.

Type: sudo apt-get install openjdk-7-jre-headless -yIf you don't add the -y you'll be asked to confirm. Java will now be installed.

I use Eclipse, so if you want it follow the instructions on this site. Select the PHP-specific version of Luna (at time of writing). Also in the instructions on that page use the original Exec=/opt/eclipse/eclipse command, and not the suggested change.

Type: sudo apt-get install git -y

Type: sudo apt-get install lamp-server^ -yThe ^ is not a mistake, you need it. You will also need to enter the MySQL password.

Type: sudo a2enmod rewriteTo enable the apache2 rewrite module.

Type: sudo service apache2 restartTo restart apache2 (surprise!)

Now you need to enable the PHP extensions you need. The only one that Drupal will actually tell you it wants is GD, but that is not in the system so it has to be loaded. There's a fairly awesome new method of doing this with PHP5.4 which we will now demonstrate:

a. Type: sudo apt-get install php5-<name> -ywhere <name> can be cgi, curl, gd, json, mysql, tidy, mcrypt, memcached, oauth, xdebug, xhprof and more. You can put them all on one line, one after the other with a space between, but don't forget to prefix with php5- in each case.

b. Type: sudo php5enmod gdTo enable the GD extension. So much better than fiddling with php.ini.

Type: sudo git clone --branch 8.0.x http://git.drupal.org/project/drupal.gitTo bring down this version of Drupal 8, you can substitute the branch you want. This gives you a directory called 'drupal' you may want to change that.

Finally you need to configure the virtual host in apache2 follow the instructions here.

C. Installing Drupal

This process is pretty much the same as for D6 and D7 but before you start there are a couple of things to do:

Type: cd /var/www/drupalOr whatever you called your Drupal 8 directory in the end.

Type: sudo chmod a+w -R sites/defaultThis makes the settings directory and its contents read/writable which is necessary when going through the initial installation of Drupal.

I've been earning money from Drupal for the last 8 years - almost every day of my working life has been about coding Drupal 5, 6, 7 and now 8.

My job as a contract web developer (working exclusively in Drupal) has taken to me to many different companies, large (NBC, BBC) and small (tiny), covering a wide range of subjects from control of broadcast TV to stock markets and healthcare.

I also have various contrib modules on drupal.org.

So I have a pretty wide knowledge of Drupal as well as lots of varied experience.

Which is where this blog comes in. I'll be using it for various hints and tips and bits of knowledge (the same as I do for my Drupal7-ish blog).

I am also in the process writing a series of books about using and developing for Drupal 8. If you want to know when they're available join my mailing list (on the right, just up there). Thanks.

DRUPAL 8 BOOKS

About Me

Male, balding, overweight, 55 on the outside. Inside I'm 17. (Yeah baby.)
I've been a professional magazine writer, editor and publisher. PR & Advertising agent. I've done advertising telesales. And I make money as a Web Developer specialising in Drupal. And I'm working to get paid as a screenwriter.
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